ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 133, 7 June 1929, Page 13

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

R.W.B.—The so-called pip, -where the tip of the tongue is dry and turns brown, is due to the nostrils being blocked. If you clear the nostrils and the bird breathes through them, the mouth will be closed and the tongue again be normal. If there is just a snuffleness amongst your fowls, put a little kerosene in the drinking water. This will float on the top in the form of a film, and every time a bird drinks it will get a little of this film on the nostrils. For the red mite, use half Kilmite, half kerosene. Thoroughly paint or saturate the perches and all woodwork with this. The dusting of lime will not kill red mite. RIVBRSDALE.—The ducklings may possibly be a "throwback," but I would advise you to see the person from whom you purchased them, as in all probability he would rather exchange them for correct colour birds than you should be disappointed. It is possible that if you mated these miscoloured birds their progeny might be correct in colour. In Australia I knew of a strain of Black Red British Game which would often throw white birds, but if you bred from the white birds the progeny was correct in colour. It Is not advisable to take these risks if they can be avoided.